Bathtub



April 7, 1925.

L. R. PAUL- BATHTUB Filed March '7 -removed from its position Patented Apr.Y 7, 1925.

UNITED STAT/es PATENT etnica.

LEON -EVERA PAUL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BATHTUB.

Application filed March 7, 1924.

The present invention has relation to bathing apparatus and refers particularly i to a combination tub and shower bath.

Some patents have issued on such combinations, but the structures of these patents have not been found commercially successful, for thereason that the person bathing in one of these devices must rise from a reclining position, pass to the other end of the bath-tub, turn around and then seat himself, in order to mike use of the spraying devices of such tubs.

The object of my invention is the provision of a bathingapparatus in which the bather, if he so chooses may enjoy his tub bath, as usual, and then without rising or turning, but by simply opening a faucet conveniently located, may turn on sprays in order to rinse othe soapy water of the tub bath.

To this end my invention consists in the q combinations hereinafter fully described and claimed and drawings are hereto attached, in which structures embodying the invention are illustrated.'

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional elevation substantially through the center of a structure embodying the invention. y

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating means of converting an ordinary bath tub into the combination device of my invention, and

Fig. 3. shows the bath-tub attachment indicated in Fig. 2. y

The structure of Fig. 1'is a bath-tubof the most modern type comprising a bowl 1 completely surrounded by a flange v2. AThis is considered the best practice where the tub is placed away from the bath room walls. In smallbath rooms, of the apartment type, the tub is usually fitted -in between -three walls, in which case the flange 2 ordinarily is omitted on the three` sides where it cannot be seen. The usual supply pipes 3 lead hot and cold waters to a faucet 4, and a drain 5 is set in the bottom of the 1bowl, all as found in practice.

At the head end it is noticed that the of which the folwall of the Serial' No. 697,550.

extend upward to form a vaulted hood 6, the height of which should be so calculated that the head of a person rising from a sitting position will clear the upper front edge 7 of this hood. The front edge 7 of the hood is tubular and this'tubular portion may extend downward to the top edge 8 of the bath-tub proper, if so desired. Two or more rows of apertures St, 10 are cut into this tubular edge to forni a spray, and the angulardirection of these apertures' may be calculated so -as to-play fine streams' of water practically over the entire surface of the'bowl, care being taken, of course, that the spray is not directed too close to or loutside the top edge 8 of the t b'owl and iiangc ub. l y

Substantially in the center of the dome may .be mounted an ordinary shower spray 11, through which a stream of water may be directed o ver the head and shoulders of a person sitting or reclining in the tub.

`From the foregoing 1t should be clear toanyone accustomed to the use of a modern S bath room equipment, that he can 4take his tub bath and shower in the structure of my invention 'without moving, except as reuired inorder to lift the drain plug out of the drain; an advantage not attainable in any other bath-tub, so far as I am aware. l The proper method of water connections may well be governed by regulations or ordinances of the places where the structure is to be installed for use, and the following description is merely given for the purpose of indicating acomplete operative device. Into the supply pipes 3 may be cut Ts 12 from which pi pes 13, 14 and 15 lead to a pipe 1G,

to the edge sprays 9, 1() and` the shower spray 11. At any suitable-point in the pipe line are placed a pair of faucets 17, 18, which control the flow of water to the sprays. These faucets shouldh be so place that they may be conveniently operated by t-he bather from either a sitting or reclining position, and the operating handles should preferably be set close to or sunk into the structure in' order not to catch the arm or shoulder of the bather. There may, of course, be provided additional valves 19, 20,- capable of cutting' olf the flow either to the edge sprays lor the head shower, ifsuch should case such control valves are employed they should be conveniently placed..t

which in turn carries water be desired, and inl on the tub.

lin place, so that A bath-tub 30, of the old and universally used type is here shown litted with supply pipes 3l, faucet and drain 33. The vaulted portion is in this case a separate cast or sheet metal hood 34 provided with a tubular front edge 35, in which rows of spray perfor-ations 36 are placed, as hereinbefore described. A shower spray 37 is also placed substantially in the middle of the dome, as in Fig. l.

' The vaulted portion may be made with the inner hood 34, as indicated, and this hood may be surrounded by a shell 38, partly in order to cover the necessary pipe connections and mostly for the sake of appearances. But it isr important to note that th'e yhood should be made with a curved flange, or apron 39 of a size to extend inwardly over the curved top edge of the bath-tub, in order that the water from above may drain into the bath-tub, and also so that the attached hood may set firmly The wall of the hood may then set back from this apron, as indicated inthe drawing, in order t'o afford more elbow room.

The pipeA connections may remain substantially as described in Fig. l, and the device may be delivered with all necessary 'pipes and valves 42, 43, to cut a pair of Ts 40 into the su pipes 3l. Even this may be avoided. and a rubber hose, such as commonly used in connection with detachable bath sprays, may be pushed on the nipple-41 of the faucet 32. In this case the valves 42, 43 should be -omitted and a nipple placed on the pipe 44, upon which to attach the other end of said hose. And if thisnipple is caused to project inward throu h the wall of the hood vit is readily seen tlat the rubber hose will be entirely within the tub, and that no water will be spilled outside.

Vhet-her a one piece structure, such as shown in Fig. l, or an attachment to an old bath-tub, or whether fixed pipe connections or rubber tube connections be Yconsidered, it is `clear that the importance of Pply connection with' it only will be ,necessary` my invention resides in the fact that a curtainless structure is obtained in which a person may enjoy both tub and shower bath without changing position.

Reference was made above to the angular direction of the spray perforations 9, l0, which must be so that the water will not Hy -out-side the tub. A better way, although of course also a little more sive, is to form the edge of the tub more nearly into a triangular cross sectional shape, substantially as indicated inv Fig. l, and to place the apertures in the inner side of this triangle. If then the edge 7, 8 is formed intofthe shape of an inwardly projecting lip as shown, it is clearly seen that this lip will delieet any water tending to project beyond the tub. The apertures 9 and l0 should be close to the corners of the triangle so that water remaining after bathingmay drain out.

I claim:

l. As an attachment to a bath tub, au arched hood provided at the bottom with a curved flange litting over the roll-edge of the tub and made along its arched front edge with a tubular rim .having rows of orifices inwardly directed, the hood comprising between the liange and the said rim an outer and an inner wall, there being in said inner wall a recess, water connections leading into the space between said walls, and control valves in said connections having handles seated in said' recess.

2. As an attachment toa bath tub, an open-front hood seatable on said tub and made with a tubular rim along its front edge, said rim provided with inwardly directed oriees, a shower spray in the top of said hood, the hood having an outer arched wall rearwardly extending, whereby an arched chamber i's provided, open at the back, and water connections leading into said rim -and shower spray, said connections seated in said chamber and operable within the hood.

In testimony lwhereof I have hereunto alixed' my signature.

LEON REVERA PAUL.

expen- 

